New to Stud/8

[Durs522]

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Small pair/small kicker hands aren't as good as they look, and once you catch bad, you should usually get away from them quickly

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What's the standard line with small pair/small kicker type hands? I usually fold them on 3rd because I don't know what "catching good" is. Are you looking to make 2 pair or hit another low card? I suppose both would be good, but then again its not that good is it?

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They generally should be folded quite often. It depends what your two starting ranks are; I'd rather have 656 vs 727. It's also dependent on others' doorcards and lots of other factors. I'm less inclined to play them if a lot of babies are playing in front of me and if my cards are dead.

What makes them tricky is if one or more other low draws and you catch good (a non-pairing baby), especially if there's a high hand also involved. In that case, you're often behind in both directions and can get jammed in, making it difficult to correctly play your hand.

The best card to catch is your set card. People will think you're on a low draw so you'll have great deception but that happens less than 1 in 20 times on 4th. Making two pair and catching a baby are also good but can make for tricky situations depending what you're up against.

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This advice is really good, from the little experience I have in stud8. There have been a few times that I put myself in a tough spot by catching a good card on 4th, but being jammed up between a high and a presumably better low. I would call 4th and re-evaluate on 5th. If I caught another good card and my opponent caught bad then I might continue.

[SweetLuckyMe]

Playing small pr/small kicker hands takes some imagination on early streets, else they're likely -EV 3ways. You better get adept at using the c/r to get rid of one of the other two hands on 4th (or sometimes 5th). If you're the passive calling type then you're definitely best served not even playing them in the first place, because if you can't occasionally get the better high hand to fold you *will* lose money long term.

[spino1i]

Fold like everywhere. Shouldnt have even played the hand past 3rd street.

[TheChad]

I call/call on third and fold the rest of the way. It seems like he's locked for the low with a possible solid high. I've seen this strategy work before (playing Ted Forrest Razz in a Stud/8 game) and that seems what he's doing here. However, even if you DO have him beat, I feel like you're pretty slim to take the high hand for the split.
Call 3rd, fold.